Medicine
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Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene has proven to be associated with the clinical outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis virus B or C (HBV or HCV) infections. However, whether IL28B SNPs have an influence on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with HBV or HCV infection remains controversial. Therefore, this study aims to determine the association between IL28B polymorphisms and the risk of HCC in individuals with HBV or HCV infection. ⋯ Sensitivity analyses suggested the robustness of the results in this meta-analysis. Both IL28B rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT genotypes are protective factors for the development of HCC among patients with HBV or HCV infection. Future prospective studies examining the impact of IL28B polymorphisms on the risk of HCC and investigating the underlying mechanism for the protective role of IL28B polymorphisms in HCC development are warranted.
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Meta Analysis
Effectiveness of spa therapy for patients with chronic low back pain: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem around the world. Two previous meta-analyses showed that the spa therapy has a positive effect on reducing pain among patients with LBP based on studies published before 2006 and studies published between 2006 and 2013. In recent years, more studies reported the effect of spa therapy on treating chronic low back pain (CLBP). Our study aimed to update the meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the effect of spa therapy on treating CLBP and to examine the effect of spa therapy based on different interventions. ⋯ This updated meta-analysis confirmed that spa therapy can benefit pain reliving and improve lumbar spine function among patients with CLBP. Physiotherapy of subgroup analysis indicated that it can improve lumbar spine function. However, these conclusions should be treated with caution due to limited studies. More high-quality RCTs with double-blind design, larger sample size, and longer follow-up should be employed to improve the validity of study results.
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Muscular fatigue is caused by biochemical alterations that modify the mechanics of muscle contraction, resulting in negative changes in the performance of the contraction. Several resources are studied to mitigate this situation among which we can cite low-level laser therapy (LLLT). The effects of LLLT are being studied in healthy subjects with fibromyalgia and who are athletes, and currently the studies are being performed in spastic muscles with poststroke individuals. The aim will be to evaluate the effects of LLLT on the fatigue of the biceps brachii muscle of healthy individuals and individuals with spastic hemiparesis. ⋯ A cross-sectional, comparative, randomized, placebo, double-blind clinical trial will be divided into 2 phases: phase I shall consist of 30 healthy subjects and phase II of 30 poststroke individuals. The study will consist of 3 groups (control group, placebo group, and LLLT group), and all individuals will pass through all groups, following the randomization criteria. The protocol consists of the application of LLLT in the biceps brachii muscle on the dominant side in healthy individuals and in the hemiparetic side of poststroke individuals, and, subsequently, 3 maximal isometric voluntary contractions (MIVCs) will be performed for 50 seconds in the dynamometer, with an interval of 50 seconds between them. Pain intensity will be evaluated by means of the visual analog scale, and the myoelectric activity by means of surface electromyography associated with the evaluation of muscular strength by means of the dynamometer. The local temperature will be evaluated by infrared thermography and blood lactate concentration through the lactimeter, which will be measured at 4 different times, before the application of the laser (basal), and 3, 15, and 25 minutes after the MIVC.
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Pelvic tumor had great impact on patients' quality of life. After tumor resection, how to accurately fill bone defect remained challenging for orthopedic surgeons. Due to lack of individual design, high incidence of prosthetic mismatching, and loosening were reported in pelvic reconstruction surgery with conventional modular prostheses. Nowadays, with rapid development of three-dimensional (3D) print technology, pelvic prostheses could be designed according to patients' own anatomy. The objective of this study was to describe the application of 3D printed customized hemi-pelvic prosthesis for patients with pelvic tumor. ⋯ Satisfactory effect of pelvic reconstruction could be achieved by 3D printed hemi-pelvic prostheses. It also provided a promising way to the treatment of pelvic tumor in similar cases.